So, you’re curious about living in Iowa? Well, you’ve come to the right place!
The expert movers, travelers, and worldwide locals that make up the team at Relocalate.com are here to help.
We’ve compiled the ultimate guides to answer the most common questions people just like you have about living in the great state of Iowa.
Dive deep into the topics you’re interested in to make sure your new home in Iowa matches what you’re looking for.
We’ll explore whether Iowa is a good place for YOU to live, and we’ll highlight some of the best cities for you to visit, explore, and ultimately call home.
Pros and Cons of Living in Iowa
You’ve heard it before, and it’s true: no place is perfect. What matters is how good of a fit it is for you.
Relocalate.com is here to help you decide whether Iowa is the best place for YOU to live.
Here are some reasons to love living in Iowa:
- Iowa is a beautiful state with lots of opportunity.
- It’s affordable to live in and economical to do business there, meaning it’s easy for you or your company to grow!
And, on the flip side, here are some of the downsides of living in Iowa:
- Iowa has an average commute time of just under 30 minutes.
- It has one of the highest air pollution rates (top 20) in the country.
Read More: Is Iowa a Good Place to Live?
Best Place to Live in Iowa
So, you’ve got your heart set on living in Iowa? Well, the decision making doesn’t end there. You’ve still got to decide where to live in Iowa!
In some other articles, we’ll dive deeper into some of the best places to live in Iowa.
Our experts have considered a whole bunch of different criteria to select the top locations, including:
- The best places to live for families, retirees, singles, young adults, outdoor lovers, foodies, and more.
- The safest places to live.
- The cheapest places to live.
- The best schools.
- The best job markets.
- The best housing markets.
- And so much more.
Just want a quick list? No worries, here are some of the best cities to live in Iowa:
- Des Moines
- Le Mars
- Mount Vernon
Read More: Best Places to Live in Iowa
Checklist for Moving to Iowa
So now you’re preparing for your big move to Iowa. Maybe you’ve even started packing!
As you probably already know, there are a lot of things to take care of when you’re moving. Both in your current state and once you get to Iowa.
Here are some of the major things you’ll want to take care of when you move to Iowa:
- Updating your address with USPS.
- Getting your Iowa driver’s license.
- Transferring your vehicle titles and registrations to Iowa
- Getting Iowa car insurance.
- Signing up for health insurance in Iowa and finding new doctors, dentists, and local hospitals.
- Updating/changing other insurance policies you may need (homeowner’s insurance, renter’s insurance, pet insurance, motorcycle insurance, etc.)
- Registering to vote in your district in Iowa.
- Updating your address with your banks, credit cards, subscription services, loans, investments, phone plans, and bill pay.
- Enrolling your kids in their new school district.
- Licensing your pets and finding a new vet.
- Setting up your utilities for your new home.
- Preparing to file state taxes for Iowa and your previous home state.
Visit your Iowa Moving Checklist for a detailed guide on all of the above.
Read More: Moving to Iowa Checklist
While we’re at it, let’s cover some high-level questions and fun facts about Iowa.
Things to Know About Living in Iowa
As you’re preparing for your move or getting settled into your new home in Iowa, here are some things to know about living there.
Cost of Living in Iowa
One thing to consider when moving to a new state is the relative cost of living.
Iowa ranks 10th on the Cost of Living Index with an overall rating of 90.4, meaning it’s a relatively inexpensive place to live.
Here is how Iowa scores for the cost of living in each specific category:
- Groceries: 98.3
- Housing: 76.5
- Utilities: 94.1
- Transportation: 98.6
- Health: 101.4
- Miscellaneous: 93.7
The average cost of living in this index is scored at 100. The numbers above represent the percentage of the average. A number higher than 100 represents an above average cost of living, while a number lower than 100 represents a lower cost of living. A lower rank indicates a lower cost of living.
This data comes from the Cost of Living Index prepared by the Council for Economic Research (C2ER), which compiles data from cities across the country to rank and compare the differences in costs of living.
Sales Tax Rates in Iowa
Sales tax is a way that state and local governments collect tax revenue from its residents and visitors.
These taxes are applied when you purchase something. It’ll show up on your receipt or bill. If you’ve recently moved to Iowa from somewhere else, the new sales tax rates may surprise you.
On top of the state sales tax rates, local rates for certain counties and cities may apply and vary as well.
Iowa’s state sales tax rate is higher than the national average at 6%, with an average local rate of .94% (the highest local sales tax rate is 1%). Across the state, the average sales tax rate is about 6.94%
Check with the Iowa tax office for the most current tax rates.
Real-Estate Property Tax Rates in Iowa
If you own or plan to own real estate in Iowa, you’ll want to think about the property tax rates when you move there.
Iowa ranks 40th (from low to high) for its state property tax rate of 1.57%.
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There may be additional property taxes on top of the rate stated here depending on your county, city, and school districts.
Check with the Iowa tax office for the most current tax rates.
Iowa’s Job Market & Economy
Another thing to think about when moving to Iowa is the job market and economic indicators.
Overall, Iowa ranks 30th for Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the United States.
The GDP measures the overall monetary value of all goods and services produced within a certain place over a period of time.
Its top 10 industries (ranked from largest to smallest by economic contribution to the state) are:
- Manufacturing
- Finance and insurance
- Real estate and rental and leasing
- Educational services, health care, and social assistance
- Professional and business services
- Wholesale trade
- Retail trade
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Construction
- Transportation and warehousing
The top employer in Iowa is University of Iowa.
Notable Destinations and Landmarks in Iowa
Our Iowa moving guide wouldn’t be complete without a brief mention of some of the most iconic destinations in the state.
When you get settled in, a road trip may just be in order.
One of the most iconic landmarks in Iowa is the Field of Dreams.
National Monuments that you can find in Iowa include:
- Effigy Mounds National Monument
These destinations are all great places to visit when you get a chance.
Facts about Iowa
Iowa is the 29th state of the United States that lies in the midwest region. To its north is Minnesota, to its south is Missouri, to its east is Wisconsin and Illinois, and to its west is Nebraska.
What is the capital of Iowa?
The capital of Iowa is Des Moines.
Des Moines is located in Polk County with a population of 203,433.
What is the population of Iowa?
The population of Iowa based on 2020 US Census data is 3,190,369.
What is the largest city in Iowa?
The largest city in Iowa is Des Moines.
What is the size of Iowa?
Iowa is 56,273 square miles, making it the 26th largest state in the U.S.
What is the state motto of Iowa?
The state motto of Iowa is: Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain
What is the state bird of Iowa?
The state bird of Iowa is the Eastern goldfinch.
What is the state flower of Iowa?
The state flower of Iowa is the Wild rose.
What is the state tree of Iowa?
The state tree of Iowa is the Bur Oak.
What is the minimum wage in the state of Iowa?
The minimum wage in Iowa is $7.25 per hour.
What is the median income in Iowa?
The median annual household salary in Iowa is $59,955.